Automatically positionable joints and transfer tooling assemblies including automatically positionable joints

ABSTRACT

An automatically positionable joint for a modular tooling assembly includes a first joint member; a second joint member that is rotatably connected to the first joint member; a motor for causing rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member; and a first clutch that is movable between an engaged position in which the first clutch restrains rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member and a disengaged position in which the first clutch permits rotation of the first joint member with respect to the second joint member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/867,245, filed on Sep. 28, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/056,098, filed on Sep. 26, 2014.

BACKGROUND

Automated manipulators such as robotic arms typically utilize toolingassemblies with end effectors to pick up and release workpieces.Previous tooling assemblies have utilized various sections of tubinginterconnected by brackets, mounts, clamps, and other similar devices.These brackets, mounts, and clamps allow positional adjustment of thesections of tubing such that a desired position and orientation can beestablished for an end effector. Because it is time consuming to changethe configuration of the tooling assemblies, end effector toolingassemblies are often provided with a quick disconnect coupling orsimilar device. This allows the tooling assembly to be removed from theautomated manipulator and replaced with a different tooling assembly.This is done, for example, to allow various different workpieces to behandled by the automated manipulator upon changing the tooling assembly.

SUMMARY

Automatically positionable joints and transfer tooling assemblies thatinclude automatically positionable joints are disclosed herein.

One aspect of the disclosed embodiments is an automatically positionablejoint for a modular tooling assembly. The automatically positionablejoint includes a first joint member; a second joint member that isrotatably connected to the first joint member; a motor for causingrotation of the first joint member with respect to the second jointmember; and a first clutch that is movable between an engaged positionin which the first clutch restrains rotation of the first joint memberwith respect to the second joint member and a disengaged position inwhich the first clutch permits rotation of the first joint member withrespect to the second joint member.

Another aspect of the disclosed embodiments is a modular toolingassembly that includes a first automatically positionable joint and asecond automatically positionable joint. The first automaticallypositionable joint and the second automatically positionable joint eachinclude a first joint member, a second joint member that is rotatablyconnected to the first joint member, a motor for causing rotation of thefirst joint member with respect to the second joint member, and a firstclutch. The first clutch is movable between an engaged position in whichthe first clutch restrains rotation of the first joint member withrespect to the second joint member and a disengaged position in whichthe first clutch permits rotation of the first joint member with respectto the second joint member. The modular tooling assembly also includesone or more tooling arm portions that rigidly connect the firstautomatically positionable joint to the second automaticallypositionable joint.

Another aspect of the disclosed embodiment is a modular tooling assemblythat includes a first automatically positionable joint that includes afirst joint member, a second joint member, a motor for causing rotationof the first joint member with respect to the second joint member on afirst axis, wherein the first joint member is clutched with respect tothe second joint member to permit rotation by the motor and to restrainrotation in response to external forces; a second automaticallypositionable joint that includes a third joint portion, a fourth jointportion, a motor for causing rotation of the third joint portion withrespect to the fourth joint portion on a second axis, wherein the thirdjoint portion is clutched with respect to the fourth joint portion topermit rotation by the motor and to restrain rotation in response toexternal forces; and one or more tooling arm portions that rigidlyconnects the first automatically positionable joint to the secondautomatically positionable joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various other uses of the present invention will become moreapparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a transfer tooling assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tooling arm of a transfer toolingassembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of an automatically positionable jointaccording to a first example;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing part of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing part of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an automatically positionable jointaccording to a second example;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing part of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a detail view showing part of the automatically positionablejoint of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description herein is directed to tooling assemblies that includeautomatically positionable joints. These tooling assemblies are utilizedfor applications that require tools such as end effectors to bepositioned accurately at a predetermined position and held rigidly overa large number of operation cycles so that the tool is placed with ahigh degree of precision. The joints described herein are automaticallypositioned using a motor that is associated with each joint. Since thejoints are then kept in the same position for a number of operationcycles, the joints each include a releasable clutch that is disengagedto allow adjustment of the joint using its motor, and then engaged toprevent movement at the joint in between adjustments to its position.

FIG. 1 shows a workpiece transfer system 100 that includes a roboticmanipulator 110, a beam 120 that is coupled to the robotic manipulator110 at a connector 130, and a plurality of automated tooling arms 140.

The workpiece transfer system 100 is typically utilized to perform atransfer operation in which a workpiece is moved from a first positionto a second position. After moving the workpiece to the second position,the workpiece transfer system returns to the first position to repeatthe transfer operation with respect to the next workpiece. For example,the first position could be at a first machine that performs a firstoperation with respect to the workpiece, and the second position couldbe at a second machine that performs a second operation with respect tothe workpiece. During the transfer operation, the robotic manipulator110 moves the beam and the automated tooling arms. There is no relativemotion, however, of any of the automated tooling arms 140, either withrespect to each other or with respect to the beam 120.

The beam 120 is a substantially rigid elongate member. In someimplementations, the beam 120 is a linear member that is free fromjoints or couplings along its length. The robotic manipulator 110 isconnected to the beam for moving the beam 120 in two or more degrees offreedom. In some implementations, the robotic manipulator 110 can beconnected to and released from the beam 120 at the connector 130, withthe connector 130 being a quick-release style connection that providesmechanical, electrical, and/or pneumatic connection of the beam 120 withrespect to the robotic manipulator 110. In other implementations, therobotic manipulator 110 is permanently connected to the beam 120 at theconnector 130 by any suitable rigid fastening structure. Using therobotic manipulator 110, the beam 120 and all of the automated toolingarms 140 that are connected to the beam 120 can be moved in unison.

Each of the automated tooling arms 140 is connected to the beam 120 at afixed location on the beam. Connection of the tooling arms 140 to thebeam 120 can be accomplished using any suitable rigid fasteningstructure or a quick connect structure that is operable to accuratelyposition and precisely hold the tooling arms 140 in a desired positionwith respect to the beam 120.

The automated tooling arms 140 are positioned in a desired configurationwith respect to the beam 120, with the configuration being dependentupon the geometry of the workpieces that are being handled by theworkpiece transfer system 100. In a typical application, a large numberof cycles of the transfer operation will be performed with respect to asingle type of workpiece, with each of the individual workpieces of acertain type having a certain geometry. When the need arises to utilizethe workpiece transfer system 100 in conjunction with a different typeof workpiece having a geometry that differs from the geometry of theworkpiece that was previously being processed, the configurations ofsome or all of the automated tooling arms 140 can be changed so thatthey adopt a configuration that is suited for use with the next type ofworkpiece.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the automated tooling arms 140 includes oneor more tooling arm portions such as a first arm portion 210, a secondarm portion 220, and a third arm portion 230. The tooling arm portionsare all rigid, elongate members that are interconnected by one or moreautomatically positionable joints, such as a first joint 240 and asecond joint 250. In the illustrated example, the first arm portion 210is connected to the second arm portion 220 by the first joint 240, andthe second arm portion 220 is connected to the third arm portion 230 bythe second joint 250. The first joint 240 is operable to cause rotationabout a first axis 242. In particular, the first joint 240 can beautomatically adjusted to a desired position which causes the second armportion 220 to rotate with respect to the first arm portion 210 aboutthe first axis 242. This adjustment necessarily moves the third armportion 230 as well. The second joint 250 is operable to cause rotationabout a second axis 252. In particular, the second joint 250 can beautomatically adjusted to a desired position, which causes the third armportion 230 to rotate with respect to the second arm portion 220 aboutthe second axis 252.

An end effector 260 is connected to the third arm portion 230, oppositethe second joint 250. The end effector 260 is adapted to engage aworkpiece. The end effectors 260 of multiple tooling arms 140 engage theworkpiece at the same time during the transfer operation, therebyallowing the workpiece transfer system 100 to pick up and move theworkpiece. In the illustrated example, the end effector 260 is a vacuumcup. Other types of end effectors can be utilized, such as grippers,magnets, and shovels.

FIGS. 3-6 show an automatically positionable joint 300 according to afirst example. The automatically positionable joint 300 can be utilizedas the first joint 240 and/or the second joint 250 of the automatedtooling arm 140 of FIG. 2. The joint 300 includes a first joint memberthat is rotatable with respect to a second joint member.

The first joint member of the joint 300 can be defined by a firsthousing 310 and an end plate 312. The first housing 310 defines a hollowinterior for receiving and containing components of the joint 300 aswill be described further herein. In some implementations, the hollowinterior of the first housing 310 is cylindrical or substantiallycylindrical, either in whole or in part. The first housing 310 includesan integrally formed tooling arm portion 314 for connection to othertooling arm portions, joints, or tools. In other implementations, acomplete tooling arm and, optionally, a housing of another joint can beintegrally formed with the first housing 310. In yet otherimplementations, a separate tooling arm portion is connectable to thefirst housing 310 by any manner of coupling or fastener.

The end plate 312 is a planar circular member that is rigidly connectedto an open end of the first housing 310 opposite the second joint memberby conventional structures such as threaded fasteners that are operableto prevent rotation of the end plate 312 with respect to the firsthousing 310. This allows the end plate 312 to receive a rotational driveforce at a drive aperture 313, which in this example is a non-round(e.g. hexagonal) aperture that is formed at a radial center of the endplate 312 and is positioned along and extends along an axis of rotationof the first joint member with respect to the second joint member.

The second joint member of the joint 300 can be defined by a secondhousing 320, an end plate 322, and a retainer ring 326. The secondhousing 320 defines a hollow interior for receiving and containingcomponents of the joint 300 as will be described further herein. In someimplementations, the hollow interior of the second housing 320 iscylindrical or substantially cylindrical, either in whole or in part.The second housing 320 includes an integrally formed tooling arm portion324 for connection to other tooling arm portions, joints, or tools. Inother implementations, a complete tooling arm and, optionally, a housingof another joint can be integrally formed with the second housing 320.In yet other implementations, a separate tooling arm portion isconnectable to the second housing 320 by any manner of coupling orfastener.

The second housing 320 also includes an integrally formed engagementsurface 325 for receiving the first housing 310 that is positioned alongand extends along the axis of rotation of the first joint member withrespect to the second joint member. The engagement surface 325 is formedon and can extend around the outer periphery of the housing 320. In thisexample, the engagement surface 325 defines a polygonal periphery forthe housing 320, with the polygonal periphery being centered on the axisof rotation, such that a polygonal cross section for the housing 320 isdefined in the area of the engagement surface 325, when viewed in adirection that is parallel to the axis of rotation. Other geometries canbe utilized.

The end plate 322 is a planar circular member that is rigidly connectedto an open end of the second housing 320 opposite the first joint memberby conventional structures such as threaded fasteners that are operableto prevent rotation of the end plate 322 with respect to the secondhousing 320. An aperture 323 is formed through the end plate 322. Inthis example, the aperture 323 is positioned along and extends along theaxis of rotation of the first joint member with respect to the secondjoint member.

The retainer ring 326 is rigidly connected to the housing 320 bysecuring structures such as conventional threaded fasteners. Theretainer ring 326 is configured with respect to the housing 320 todefine an annular channel in which part of the housing 310 is received.This connection is configured such that the first housing 310 and thesecond housing 320 are rotatable with respect to one another, but cannotbe separated or moved axially by a significant distance while theretainer ring 326 is connected to the second housing 320.

To drive rotation of the first joint member with respect to the secondjoint member, the joint 300 includes a motor 330. The motor 330 includesa motor housing 332 and an output shaft 334. The motor 330 is operableto receive an input signal and rotate the output shaft 334 by a desireddegree of rotation in response to the input signal. In anotherimplementation, the motor 330 can be an electrical motor that does notinclude gear reduction, and a gear train can be provided separately,such as inside the second housing 320.

The motor housing 332 is fixedly connected to the second joint member ina manner that prevents relative rotation of the motor housing 332 withrespect to the second joint member. For example, the motor housing 332can be rigidly connected to the end plate 322 with threaded fasteners orother conventional fasteners. The output shaft 334 extends through theaperture 323 of the end plate 322. A hub 336 is connected to the outputshaft 334. In this implementation, the hub has an inner bore forreceiving the output shaft 334, which is retained by conventional meanssuch as a hex screw that is threaded to the hub along a passageperpendicular to the inner bore to allow engagement and disengagementwith the output shaft in response to threaded advancement and retractionof the hex screw. The outer periphery of the hub 336 includes featuresthat are intended to allow engagement of the hub to drive rotation ofanother structure, which in the implementation are flat surfaces as partof a polygonal (e.g. hexagonal) periphery.

The output shaft 334 of the motor is connected to a drive member 340 viaa clutch assembly 350. The drive member 340 is disposed in the secondhousing 320 and a bearing 341.

The clutch assembly 350 is a non-actuated clutch that serves to limitthe amount of torque that can be transmitted from the drive member 340to the motor. For example, the clutch assembly 350 can be configured toslip (and thus not transmit rotation) when the torque applied to theclutch assembly 350 meets or exceeds a predetermined amount of torque.This can prevent damage to the motor 330 as a result of external forcesapplied to the tooling arm (e.g. a “tool crash”).

The clutch assembly 350 is housed within a cylindrical portion 342 ofthe drive member 340. The cylindrical portion 342 is in the form of acylindrical wall that includes geometric features that are adapted toengage the clutch assembly so that the drive member 340 can be driven bythe clutch assembly 350. In the illustrated example, the drive member340 has a plurality of axially extending slots 343 that extend from oneend (an open end) of the cylindrical portion 342 part way down thecylindrical wall. Portions of the clutch assembly 350 are received inthese slots, as will be explained.

The clutch assembly 350 includes a biasing element 352, a firstplurality of clutch disks 354, and a second plurality of clutch disks356. The first plurality of clutch disks 354 and the second plurality ofclutch disks 356 are stacked in an interleaved manner. The biasingelement 352 is positioned between the clutch disks 354, 356 and the endplate 322 in order to apply pressure to the clutch disks, therebyincreasing frictional engagement between the first plurality of clutchdisks 354 and the second plurality of clutch disks 356. Each of theclutch disks 354 has a drive aperture 355 that is adapted to engage thehub 336. As a result of engagement of the hub 336 with the driveaperture 355, the clutch disks 354 rotate in unison with the outputshaft 334 of the motor 330. In one implementation, the clutch disks 354are fabricated from metal. Other materials can be used. Each of theclutch disks 356 has a plurality of engagement structures 357 such asfingers that extend into the slots 343 of the drive member 340. As aresult of engagement of the engagement structures 357 with the slots343, the clutch disks 356 rotate in unison with the drive member 340. Inone implementation, the clutch disks 354 are fabricated from a highfriction material such as an organic material. Other materials can beused.

The torque applied to the clutch disks 354 by the motor 330 is, undernormal and expected operating conditions, below the threshold torquevalue that the clutch assembly 350 is intended to accommodate, and thus,rotation of the output shaft of the motor will cause rotation of thedrive member 340 via the clutch assembly 350. If, however, torque isapplied to the clutch assembly 350 by the drive member 340, the clutchassembly 350 will slip if the torque applied to the clutch disks 356 bythe drive member 340 exceeds a predetermined value to prevent rotationof the output shaft 334 of the motor 330. The predetermined value is afunction of the sizes and materials selected for the clutch disks 354,356, as well as the amount of force applied to the clutch disks 354, 356by the biasing element 352, and is set based on characteristics of themotor 330.

The drive member 340 includes a drive shaft 344 that extends into thefirst housing 310. At an end of the drive shaft 344, an engagingstructure 345 is defined on the outer periphery of the drive shaft 344.In this example, the engaging structure 345 has a geometricconfiguration that is complementary to the geometric configuration ofthe drive aperture 313, and the engaging structure 345 is disposed inthe drive aperture 313 such that motion of the end plate 312 and thefirst housing 310 with respect to the drive member 340 is restrained.

A releasable clutch assembly 360 is disposed within the housing 310. Thereleasable clutch assembly 360 is movable between an engaged position inwhich the releasable clutch assembly 360 restrains rotation of the firstjoint member with respect to the second joint member and a disengagedposition in which the releasable clutch assembly 360 permits rotation ofthe first joint member with respect to the second joint member. Thereleasable clutch assembly 360 is actuatable to cause movement of thereleasable clutch assembly 360 between the engaged position and thedisengaged position. For example, the releasable clutch assembly 360 canbe a pneumatically operated clutch that is actuatable by a supply ofpressurized air, with the releasable clutch assembly 360 being biasedtoward the engaged position and movable to the disengaged position inresponse to the supply of pressurized air.

The releasable clutch assembly includes a back plate 362, a biasingelement 364 such as a wave spring, a pressure plate 366 with a collarportion 367, a first plurality of clutch disks 368, and a secondplurality of clutch disks 370. The back plate 362 is a circular memberthat is seated on the drive shaft 344. The pressure plate 366 is alsoseated on the drive shaft 344, with the biasing element 364 positionedbetween the back plate 362 and the pressure plate 366 to bias thepressure plate toward the clutch disks 368, 370 to cause frictionalengagement of the first plurality of clutch disks 368 with respect tothe second plurality of clutch disks 370. An inner periphery 369 of eachof the clutch disks 368 is received on the engagement surface 325 of thesecond housing 320 such that relative rotation of the second housing 320and the clutch disks 368 is restrained. Engagement structures such asfingers 371 on the clutch disks 370 and grooves 311 on the innerperiphery of the first housing 310 engage each other to prevent relativerotation of the first housing 310 and the clutch disks 370, with theclutch assembly in the engaged position by virtue of the biasing elementcompressing the clutch disks 368, 370 to frictionally engage them. Thesecond housing 320 is restrained from rotating with respect to the firsthousing 310 unless subjected to an external force that overcomes theengagement of the clutch disks 368, 370.

The releasable clutch assembly 360 remains in the engaged position whilethe tooling arm in which the joint 300 is incorporated is in use, suchas during repeated cycles of an operation (e.g. the previously describedtransfer operation). Prior to adjustment of the angular position of thesecond joint member with respect to the first joint member, thereleasable clutch assembly 360 is moved to the disengaged position. Thereleasable clutch assembly 360 is moved to the disengaged position byreleasing the pressure applied to the clutch disks 368, 370 by thepressure plate 366. In the illustrated example, the collar portion 367is disposed in a chamber 372 that is defined between the second housing320 and the drive shaft 344. In order to disengage the releasable clutchassembly, a supply of pressurized air is introduced to the chamber 372,such as via a supply port 373 that is connected to an external source ofpressurized air. Air pressure in the chamber 372 moves the pressureplate toward the back plate 362 against the force of the biasing element364. This releases the frictional engagement of the clutch disks 368,370 so that the clutch disks 368 can rotate relative to the clutch disks370 as the motor 330 drives adjustment of the second joint member withrespect to the first joint member. Once the joint 300 has reached adesired angular configuration, the releasable clutch assembly 360 ismoved to the engaged position by ending the supply of pressurized air tothe chamber 372, thereby fixing the position of the first joint memberwith respect to the second joint member.

In order to determine the position of the first housing 310 relative tothe second housing 320, the joint 300 includes an absolute encoder 380.The absolute encoder 380 is a device that directly senses the positionof one structure with respect to another, without using relativemeasuring techniques such as calibrating to a datum and then measuringmotion with respect to the datum. Thus, the position can be sensed by amotion controller (not shown) in order to drive operation of the motor330 to set a desired angular orientation of the first joint member withrespect to the second joint member. In the illustrated example, theabsolute encoder is a flexible potentiometer, such as the FlexiPot Ringmanufactured by Tekscan, Inc. of Boston, Mass. USA.

Other types of motors and control strategies can be usable to provide amotor that is operable to drive a desired degree of rotation of thefirst joint member with respect to the second joint member.

FIGS. 7-8 show an automatically positionable joint 700 according to asecond example. The automatically positionable joint 700 can be utilizedas the first joint 240 and/or the second joint 250 of the automatedtooling arm 140 of FIG. 2. The joint 700 includes a first joint memberthat is rotatable with respect to a second joint member. The joint 700is similar to the joint 300 and the description made with respect to thejoint 300 applies to the joint 700 except as noted herein.

The first joint member of the joint 700 includes a first housing 710with an end plate 712 and an integral tooling arm portion 714. Thesecond joint member of the joint 700 includes a second housing 720 withan endplate 722 and an integral tooling arm portion 724. A motor 730having a motor housing 732 and a drive shaft 734 is connectable to thejoint 700 via the end plate 712. The drive shaft 734 drives a gear train748 via a pinion 736. The gear train 748 reduces the speed and increasesthe torque of the rotational force provided by the motor 730. The geartrain 748 causes rotation of a gear carrier 746. In the illustratedexample, the gear train 748 is a planetary gear train. Other types ofgear trains can be used. Alternatively, the gear train 748 can beomitted in favor of using a motor with internal gear reduction, asdescribed with respect to the motor 330.

A drive member 740 and clutch assembly 750 are as described with respectto the drive member 340 and clutch assembly 350, with the clutchassembly 750 conducting torque below a predetermined level between themotor and the drive member 740. The clutch assembly includes a biasingelement 752 and clutch disks 754, 756. The clutch assembly 750 receivesrotational force from the motor 730 via the gear carrier 746, whichrotates in unison with the clutch assembly 750 and drive member 740below the predetermined torque level. A retainer ring 747 retains theclutch assembly 750 on the gear carrier 746 such that the clutchassembly 750 is captured between the gear carrier 746 and the retainerring 747 to compress the disks of the clutch assembly 750. A bearing 741facilitates rotation of the drive member 740 with respect to the secondhousing 720. A drive shaft 744 extends through the first housing 710 andis secured thereto by a fastener 745. An internal air passage in thedrive shaft supplies pressurized air to the first joint member through aport 773. A bearing 766 facilitates rotation of the first housing 710with respect to the second housing 720.

A releasable clutch assembly 760 is movable between an engaged positionand a disengaged position such that it functions in the same manner asthe releasable clutch assembly 360 of FIGS. 3-6, but with a differentstructural configuration. The releasable clutch assembly 760 includes acollar 762 that is seated on a shaft portion of the drive member 740.The collar 762 includes a wedge surface 764. A plurality of J-shapedlevers 765 that are pivotally connected to the second housing 720 bypins and each have a first end engaged with the collar 762 and a secondthat applies pressure to a first plurality of clutch disks 768 and asecond plurality of clutch disks 770 that restrain rotation of the firstjoint member with respect to the second joint member when engaged. Airpressure in the second housing from the port 773 forces the collar 762downward to pivot the J-shaped levers 765 into engagement with theclutch which creates pressure in the clutch disks 768, 770, placing thereleasable clutch assembly 760 in the engaged position. In response torelease of air pressure inside the second housing 720, the collar 762slides upward, so that the wedge surface 764 no longer impedes pivotingof the J-shaped levers 765. The J-shaped levers 765 then pivot torelease pressure on the clutch disks 768, 770, which places thereleasable clutch assembly 760 in the released position, with relativerotation of the first joint member and the second joint member no longerbeing restrained.

The automatically positionable joint 700 includes an absolute encoder780 positioned between the end plate 712 and the second housing 720. Theabsolute encoder 780 functions in the same manner as the absoluteencoder 380.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intendedto cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A joint for use in connecting arms of atooling assembly to control relative movement between the arms, thejoint comprising: a first plate; a biasing element positioned adjacentthe first plate; a second plate positioned adjacent the biasing elementsuch that the biasing element is positioned between the first and secondplates; and a plurality of clutch disks movable between a firstposition, in which the plurality of clutch disks are in frictionalengagement to inhibit relative movement between the arms of the toolingassembly, and a second position, in which the plurality of clutch disksare out of frictional engagement to allow relative movement between thearms of the tooling assembly.
 2. The joint of claim 1, wherein thebiasing element is configured as a spring that applies a biasing forceto the second plate to bias the plurality of clutch disks towards thefirst position, the plurality of clutch disks including a plurality offirst disks having a first configuration and a plurality of second diskshaving a second, different configuration, the plurality of clutch disksbeing arranged in a stack that alternates between first and seconddisks, wherein the joint defines an internal chamber configured toreceive pressurized air such that the pressurized air acts on the secondplate to move the second plate towards the first plate against thebiasing force of the spring and thereby move the plurality of clutchdisks from the first position into the second position.
 3. The joint ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of clutch disks includes: a plurality offirst disks having a first configuration; and a plurality of seconddisks having a second, different configuration, the plurality of clutchdisks being arranged in a stack that alternates between first and seconddisks.
 4. The joint of claim 3, wherein the plurality of first disks areeach annular in configuration and the plurality of second disks eachinclude a plurality of projections extending outwardly therefrom inrelation to a longitudinal axis of the joint.
 5. The joint of claim 3,wherein the first and second plates are annular in configuration.
 6. Thejoint of claim 3, wherein the first plate, the second plate, theplurality of clutch disks, and the biasing element are configured andarranged to allow the plurality of clutch disks to slip when torqueapplied to the plurality of clutch disks exceeds a predeterminedthreshold.
 7. The joint of claim 3, wherein the second plate includes acollar portion extending therefrom along a longitudinal axis of thejoint.
 8. The joint of claim 3, wherein the biasing element isconfigured to apply a biasing force to the second plate to thereby biasthe plurality of clutch disks towards the first position.
 9. The jointof claim 8, wherein the biasing element is configured as a spring. 10.The joint of claim 9, wherein the biasing element is configured as awave spring.
 11. The joint of claim 8, wherein the joint defines aninternal chamber configured to receive pressurized air such that thepressurized air acts on the second plate to move the second platetowards the first plate against the biasing force of the biasing elementand thereby move the plurality of clutch disks from the first positioninto the second position.
 12. A joint for use in connecting first andsecond arms of a tooling assembly to control relative movement betweenthe first and second arms, the joint comprising: a first clutch assemblyincluding: an end plate; a first biasing element in contact with the endplate; and a first plurality of clutch disks movable between a firstposition, in which the first plurality of clutch disks are in frictionalengagement to allow rotational force transmission through the firstplurality of clutch disks, and a second position, in which the firstplurality of clutch disks are out of frictional engagement to disallowrotational force transmission through the first plurality of clutchdisks; and a second clutch assembly spaced axially from the first clutchassembly along a longitudinal axis of the joint, the second clutchassembly including: a first plate; a second biasing element positionedadjacent the first plate; a second plate positioned adjacent the biasingelement; and a second plurality of clutch disks movable between a firstposition, in which the second plurality of clutch disks are infrictional engagement to inhibit relative movement between the first andsecond arms of the tooling assembly, and a second position, in which thesecond plurality of clutch disks are out of frictional engagement toallow relative movement between the first and second arms of the toolingassembly.
 13. The joint of claim 12, wherein the first plurality ofclutch disks includes a plurality of first disks having a firstconfiguration and a plurality of second disks having a secondconfiguration different than the first configuration, the secondplurality of clutch disks including a plurality of third disks having athird configuration and a plurality of fourth disks having a fourthconfiguration different than the third configuration.
 14. The joint ofclaim 13, wherein the first plurality of clutch disks are arranged in astack that alternates between first and second disks, and the secondplurality of clutch disks are arranged in a stack that alternatesbetween third and fourth disks.
 15. The joint of claim 12, wherein thefirst biasing element is configured to apply a biasing force to thefirst plurality of clutch disks to thereby bias the first plurality ofclutch disks towards the first position, and the second biasing elementis configured to apply a biasing force to the second plate of the secondclutch assembly to thereby bias the second plurality of clutch diskstowards the first position.
 16. The joint of claim 15, wherein the firstand second biasing elements are configured as springs.
 17. The joint ofclaim 16, wherein the first and second biasing elements are configuredas wave springs.
 18. The joint of claim 15, wherein the first clutchassembly is configured to selectively connect a motor to the first armof the tooling assembly via positioning of the first plurality of clutchdisks in the first position such that the motor acts upon the first arm.19. The joint of claim 18, wherein the first clutch assembly isconfigured to slip when torque applied to the first plurality of clutchdisks exceeds a predetermined threshold.
 20. A tooling assembly,comprising: a first tooling portion including: a motor; a drive memberselectively rotatable by the motor; a first clutch assembly configuredto selectively connect the motor to the drive member such that actuationof the motor causes rotation of the drive member, the first clutchassembly including: an end plate; a first biasing element in contactwith the end plate; and a first plurality of clutch disks, wherein thefirst plurality of clutch disks are movable into frictional engagementvia pressure applied by the first biasing element to thereby transmitrotational force from the motor to the drive member to cause rotation ofthe drive member; a first housing configured to accommodate the drivemember, the drive member being in engagement with the first housing suchthat rotation of the drive member causes corresponding rotation of thefirst housing; and a first tooling arm connected to the first housingsuch that rotation of the first housing causes movement of the firsttooling arm; and a second tooling portion connected to the first toolingportion, the second tooling portion including: a second tooling arm; asecond housing connected to the second tooling arm; and a second clutchassembly accommodated by the second housing, the second clutch assemblybeing movable between an engaged position, in which relative movementbetween the first and second tooling portions is restrained, and adisengaged position, in which relative movement between the first andsecond tooling portions is not restrained.